Drum type indicator



Sept. 13, 1938. B. BACON 2,129,934

DRUM TYPE INDICATOR Original Filed Dec. 17, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept.13, 1938. 1.. B. BACON DRUM TYPE INDICATOR Original Filed Dec.

17, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Atty.

Sept. 13, 1938. r 1.. B. BACON DRUM TYPE INDICATOR OriginaLFiled Dec.17, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES DRUMTYPE INDICATOR Leonard Bernard Bacon, East Brunswick, Australia Originalapplication December 17, 1930, Serial No.

503,080. Patent No. 2,054,212, dated September 15, 1936. Divided andthis application August 15, 1936, Serial No. 96,299. In AustraliaSeptember 9, 1930 9 Claims.

This application is a division of my application Liquid level indicatorfiled Dec. 17, 1930, Ser. No. 503,080, and now issued as Letters Patent2,054,212, Sept. 15, 1936.

This invention relates to a liquid level indicator and has been devisedwith the object of providing a simple and reliable device which willindicate the quantity of petrol or liquid pumped or drawn at intervalsfrom such as a petrol storage tank or other reservoir or container.

This invention also enables the person in charge of such as a petrolservice station to know reasonably accurately what quantities of petrolor oil are being sold and also the quantity remaining in the petroltank.

The main feature of this invention resides in the fact that themeasurements of the petrol or liquid displacement in the tank areaccurate and depend upon the principle of petrol or liquid levelgoverning the descension of a float and whereby the effect of themovement of the float is greatly augmented or increased by means whichwill be hereinafter described.

A defect in apparatus such as is-usually employed is that it results ina reduced movement of a pointer or the like, whereas in my inventioneven when a very small quantity of liquid is removed from the tank thedisplacement of the float due to the receding level of the liquid can beincreased or multiplied, and in this instance by increasing the diameterof a calibrated drum from which the readings are taken. Briefly, thisinvention consists of employing a hollow collapsible metal float whichrides upon the surface of the liquid within the tank and its suspendedfrom a fine metal wire which is attached to a grooved pulley. Thispulley is mounted upon the inner end of a spring controlled shaft whichalso carries a drum on the cylindrical surface of which is a calibratedspiral. A spur pinion is mounted upon said shaft which pinion when thefloat is descending drives a gear train which both rotates ahorizontally disposed screw and winds up a spring. Mounted upon saidscrew is a movable mask which is positioned on the top of or aside ofthe calibrated drum. The said screw which is restrained againstlongitudinal movement revolves in unison with the said drum spiral sothat the mask is always opposite to the correct part of the spiral andcannot get out of register with such. Thus when a number denoting suchas gallons or other quantities is brought under the mask a reading canbe quickly and easily taken.

A further feature of this invention relates to the automatic coiling ofthe float suspension spring upon its pulley when the tank is empty andneeds replenishing with petrol or other liquid. This is accomplished bymeans of the aforesaid gear train which winds up the spring when thefloat is descending, but when the float has stopped in its descent thespring begins to unwind and reverses the rotary movement of the drumshaft through the intervention of the said gear train, and the rotatingpulley on said shaft winds the suspension wire upon itself. Also thesaid expanding spring reverses the rotary movement of the saidrestrained screw and the mask travels in the reverse direction along thescrew till it reaches the zero mark on the drum which has likewiserotated.

Referring to the drawings Fig. l is a front elevation of the device asapplied to a petrol storage tank.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation in part section, and

Fig. 3 is a front part sectional elevation of the device.

Fig. 4 is .an end elevation of the indicator drum showing the gear traintherein and Fig. 5 is a sectional top plan of the indicator anditssupporting tube, disclosed by Figs. '1 and 4, the indicator drum beingpartially broken away to show otherwise hidden parts, dotted linesindicating other hidden parts.

In the said drawings the reference numeral I indicates a petrol storagetank which may be of the usual holding capacity of say 500 gallons. 2denotes a pair of vertically disposed guide rods the upper end of whichare threaded for engagement with tapped holes in a hollow plate orflange 3 mounted upon the end of a depending guide pipe 4.

The said pipe 4 is housed in the dip tube 5 and aside of the centerthereof to leave a comparatively large space or area for the removal ofa dip stick therethrough. The lower ends of the said guide rods aresecured to a cross bar 6 as illustrated.

The numerals 'I-8 represent a collapsible float, one part I of saidfloat being longer than the other in order that its additional weightwill make it tilt downwards from the normal and horizontal position tothe vertical so that the whole float can be drawn upand through the diptube 5 i should the float leakor have to be repaired.

l4 represents a pair of brackets supported upon the ends of a pin I l?upon which pin a tipping plate H is free to pivot. I5 is a pair ofpulleys supported in the said brackets. It represent a pair of chainsattached at their lower ends to the two float sections 1, and H are apair of chains similarly connected at their lower ends to the floatsection 8.

The upper end of the said chains I6, ll are attached to a suspensionwire it preferably made of spring steel, which passes up through thepipe 4 and through an inner and concentrically mounted tube 2| into apulley housing 20 and is then connected to a grooved pulley I9. The tube2| is secured to and depends from the housing 20 and short-pitch screw4| acts as a support for the upper end of the guide pipe 4.

The said pulley housing 2| is open at one side and its open top isclosed by a removable cap 20 and extends across one half of the 'diptube as shown in Fig. 5. The pulley I9 is mounted on the inner end of ahorizontal drum shaft .22 which passes freely through a hollow screw 23,the outer end of which is formed with a collar 24 to enable said screwto be conveniently screwed into and unscrewed from an internallythreaded bore formed in the pulley housing 20, the dip tube and a plate25 which by means of set screws 21 is secured to and supports a drum box26 which latter houses a calibrated drum 28.

The drum shaft 22 is suitably supported in a bearing 29 and the drum 28is furnished with a sleeve. 30 formed with a recess 3| for engagement bya pin 32 carried in the shaft 22, the drum being retained in positionupon the said shaft by means of a split pin 22 Upon the said drum shaftis mounted a spur pinion 33 which meshes with a spur wheel 34 mountedupon a shaft 35 supported in bearings in a gear casing 36. The spurwheel 34 meshes in turn with a spur pinion 31 mounted upon a shaft 38which also carries a spur wheel 39 which gears with a pinion 40 mountedon the outer end of a rotary, preferably, 42 is a mask the inner end ofwhich is formed into a nut 43 which is in constant operative mesh withand travels in either direction along the screw and the latter revolvesin unison with the drum spiral.

A piece of fine wire 44 is secured to the ends of the drum box andpasses through the said mask and through the longitudinal centerthereof, and thereby restrains the mask and nut against angularmovements on screw 4| as an axis as the mask slides on andlongitudinally of the wire. A spiral curve is marked or traced upon thesurface of the drum and which spiral carries a series of equidistantlyspaced numerals each of which denote some quantity such as a number ofgallons or the like, depending upon the nature of the contents in thetank. In measuring such as petrol or oil the numerals would denotegallons. The mask and the drum are so arranged in relation to each otherthat when a particular numeral is brought directly under the mask andunder the fine wire 44 this numeral indicates the quantity of petrol orliquid which has been removed from the tank The descension of the float1-8 is employed to wind up a spring 48 as follows. Upon the shaft 35 aspur pinion 45 is mounted which meshes with a gear wheel 46 freelymounted upon a rigid or immovable shaft 41 supported in the said gearcasing 36. One end of the spring is attached to the gear wheel 46 andthe other end of the spring is suitably anchored to the said gearcasing. The said spring is wound up when the drum shaft 22 rotates dueto the descension of the float and the unwinding of the suspension wirefrom the pulley When the tank is being replenished with petrol or liquidthe. suspension wire l8 becomes slack and the spring 48 then uncoils andreverses the rotary movement of the drum shaft 22 and thus winds thesuspension wire on the pulley 19 the unwinding and winding of the wirel8 from and onto the pulley being repeated as the petrol or liquid isremoved from and is being replenished in the tank.

In order to remove the float 1-8 out of the tank and through the diptube 5, the set screws are unscrewed from the drum box 26, and the'pulley 19 therein to be raised out of the dip-tube and also the floatas will be clear by reference to my Patent 2,054,212 of which thisapplication is a division.

It will be understood that the smallest float movement will cause rotarymovement of the calibrated drum and that a reading can easily be takenwhich is of especial use in such as motor service stations.

It will also be understood that one of the main features of thisinvention is the use of a calibrated spiral curve upon the cylindricalsurface of the drum, and this is a great advance compared to the methodof marking a series of numbers or calibrations upon a closed orcircumferential curve which limits the readings to one rotation of thedrum, whereas by employing a spiral curve the whole surface of the drumcan be utilized, that is the readings can be taken from end to end ofthe drum, and if the drum is of considerable length,

numerous readings can be taken.

In the device illustrated the drum is about four inches in diameter andapproximately four inches in length, and this has been found sufficientto give readings when employed in conjunction with a tank or receptaclecontaining approximately 500 gallons of petrol or liquid.

The drum shaft being controlled by a spring ensures that same will havea steady and uniform rotary movement and that the wire supporting thefloat will always be kept at a tension, and consequently never becomesslack, especially as the pulley I9 is threaded or grooved in the form ofa thread or spiral thus ensuring that the wire will always be retainedin said thread.

The principle of employing a calibrated spiral on a drum can be used intanks or containers without dip tubes and where there is a large enoughopening to extract an ordinary float.

By increasing the diameter of the drum more exact readings can be takenand the diameter of said drum may be of any length suitable for aparticular purpose.

1. A liquid level indicating device, comprising an actuating rotarymember; an indicating drum mounted for rotation in either direction andactuated in one direction by said rotary member, said drum provided withindicating indicia spirally arranged circumferentially andlongitudinally thereof; a rotary screw arranged longitudinally andexteriorly of said drum and mounted for rotation in either direction; anindicator arranged exteriorly of said drum circumference and operativelyassociated with said screw for movement in either directionlongitudinally of said drum circumference for visible association withsaid drum indicia; gearing operatively connecting said drum and saidscrew for causing simultaneous rotation of the drum and screw; andspring means operatively associated with said gearing and wound upthereby when said drum is rotated by said rotary member, said gearingdrum, screw and member being simultaneously rotated in the reversedirection by the unwinding of said spring means. 1

2. In a liquid level indicator, in combination, an actuating rotarymember and its shaft mounted for rotation in either direction; anindicating drum carried and rotatable in either direction by saidshaftand having a circumferential spirally arranged series of. indiciaextending longitudinally thereof; a gear train driven by said member inone direction; a spring Wound by the gear train when driven in saiddirection, said gear train and rotary member driven in the reversedirection by the unwinding of said spring; a rotary short-pitch screwdriven by said gear train simultaneously with the drum rotation ineither direction; and an indicating finger arranged exteriorly of saiddrum and moved longitudinally thereof in either direction by said screwfor visible association with said drum indicia.

3. An indicating apparatus, including, a rotary member; means foractuating said rotary member in one direction; a rotary indicating drumrotated by said member in said direction, said drum bearingcircumferential indicating indicia; a gear train driven by said member;means for driving said gear train and reversing the rotation of saidmember and said drum comprising a spring, said spring adapted to bewound upby said gear train when driven by said rotary member and adaptedto unwind and reverse the direction of rotation oi said rotary memberand said drum; a rotary screw arranged exteriorly and longitudinally ofsaid drum, and rotated in either direction by said gear train; and anon-rotary nut in constant mesh with said screw and provided with anindicating finger for traveling in either direction longitudinally ofsaid drum and arranged for visible association with said drum indicia.

4. In combination, an indicating drum provided with indicating indiciaarranged circumferentially, spirally and longitudinally thereofapproximately from one drum end to the other, said drum mounted forrotation in either direction and held against longitudinal movements; arotary member operatively associated with said drum to rotate therewithin either direction; a rotary screw arranged exteriorly andlongitudinally of said dum and geared thereto for simultaneous rotationtherewith in either direction; a non-rotary nut in mesh with said screwfor longitudinal movement thereby in either direction; an indicatingpointer for visible association with said drum indicia and movedlongitudinally of said drum in either direction by said nut; and springmeans operatively geared to said drum and said screw and wound up bydrum rotation in one direction and adapted to unwind and reverse therotation of said drum, screw and rotary member.

5. In a liquid level indicator, in combination, an indicating drummounted for rotation in either direction and provided circumferentiallywith indicating indicia; means for rotating said drum in eitherdirection; a rotary screw arranged longitudinally and exteriorly of saiddrum and geared thereto and rotated thereby in either direction; anon-rotary nut in mesh with said screw and propelled therebylongitudinally thereof in either direction; a finger projectinglaterally from said nut and provided with a mask arranged exteriorly ofsaid drum and moved in either direction by said nut longitudinally ofsaid drum for visible association with said indicia; and anormally-fixed visible indicating line traversing said mask and arrangedexteriorly and longitudinally of said drum, said mask being confined toand slidable longitudinally of said line.

6. In a liquid level indicator, in combination, an indicating drummounted for rotation in either direction and provided circumferentiallywith indicating indicia; means for rotating said drum in eitherdirection; a rotary screw arranged longitudinally and exteriorly of saiddrum and geared thereto to rotate therewith in either direction; anon-rotary nut in mesh with said screw and propelled therebylongitudinally thereof in either direction; a finger projectinglaterally from said nut and provided with a mask having an openingtherein arranged exteriorly of said drum and moved in either directionby said nut longitudinally of said drum for visible association withsaid indicia; and a normally fixed fine wire extending centrally acrossthe mask opening and arranged longitudinally of the exterior of saiddrum along the path of movement of said mask and restraining the maskagainst lateral movements.

'7. In a liquid level indicator, in combination; a single rotary drumadapted to be provided with exterior visible circumferential indicia;means for rotating said drum in either direction; a rotary screwarranged exteriorly and longitudinally of said drum and rotated therebyin either direction; a non-rotary nut moved longitudinally in eitherdirection by the appropriate rotation of said screw, an indicatorcarried by said nut and moved thereby longitudinally of said drum ineither direction for operative association with said drum indications;and a visible indicating wire extendng exteriorly and longitudinally ofsaid drum with said indicator threaded thereon and slidable in eitherdirection on and longitudinally of said wire.

8. In a liquid level indicator, in combination, a rotary member adaptedto receive exteriorly visible indicia; an indicating m'ask having anopening therein arranged exteriorly of and in operative visibleindicating relation to said member and its indicia, and confined to astraight line path of travel in either direction longitudinally of saidmember; a normally fixed visible indicating wire traversing the openingof said mask and on which said mask is slidable and by which it isconfined to a straight line path of movement; and actuating mechanismfor simultaneously rotating said member and propelling said mask on itsstraight line travel along said fixed wire.

9. In a liquid level indicator, in combination; an indicating drummounted against endwise movements, to rotate in either direction on itslongitudinal axis and provided with circumferential visual indicia; anindicating mask arranged exteriorly of said drum and in cooperativeVisual relationship to said indicia, and confined to a straight linepath of movements longitudinally and exteriorly of said drum; a normallyfixed visible indicating wire along which said mask is slidable ineither direction along its said straight line path of movements, saidwire arranged in visual cooperative relation to said mask and saidindications and holding said mask against movement from said straightline path; and an operative transmission between said drum and said maskto simultaneously move in unison with the drum rotating in one directionand the mask correspondingly traveling along its straight line path, andwith the mask moving along its straight line path in the oppositedirection when the direction of drum rotation is reversed.

LEONARD BERNARD BACON.

